Agricultural method and apparatus for heating, treating, and circulating air



Dec. 11, 1962 H. w. SMITH 3,067,541

AGRICULTURAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING, TREATING, AND

CIRCULATING AIR Filed Oct. 10, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

E HAROLD W SM/TH ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1962 H. w. SMITH 3,067,541

AGRICULTURAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING, TREATING, AND CIRCULATINGAIR 60 INVE TOR.

meow w. SMITH u 32 Z WNM A T TORNEVS Dec. 11, 1962 H. w. SMITH 3,067,541

AGRICULTURAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING, TREATING, AND CIRCULATINGAIR Filed Oct. 10, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet s //0 i a/\ //0 F/ G. 7.

NVENTOR. HAROLD W SMITH A T TORNE VS 3,067,541 AGRTCULTURAL METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FQR TEATKNG, TREATING, AND CERQULATTNG AIR Harold W. Smith,San Marino, Qalifi, assignor, by mesne assignments to American LiquidGas Corporation, a

corporation of California Filed Get. 10, 1%9, Ser. No. 61,726 15 Claims.(Cl. 47-2) This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus forrapidly treating relatively large environmental areas proximately abovethe earth. More particularly the invention has to do with the dispersalover wide areas of particulate matter such as water droplets or mist,chemicals including insecticides and fertilizers, fog dispersalsubstances, smoke and the like, and also heating of environmental areasas by radiation, and also conduction of heat to air being blown ordisplaced over such areas.

The invention is directed primarily to the provision and use ofrelatively large, bladed rotor structure adapted to be supported forrotation above the earth at a work site, the rotor structure beingoperable to displace air vertically above a localized section of theearth so that the displaced air becomes widely dispersed above thatsection. The novel assembly, including the rotor structure, is providedwith duct means for feeding fuel and treatment fluid, powder, particles,etc., to a rotor blade or blades ultimately to discharge into the airbeing circulated, the treatment fluid for example comprising water,aqueous insecticide or fertilizer, smoke, fog dispersal materials, andeven fuel. Typically, the bladed rotor structure includes duct meansextending along the lengths of the blades, and provided with dischargeorifices through which the treatment fluid is discharged to enter theair being circulated, and thereby widely dispersed over theenvironmental area. Fuel discharged through the duct orifices may beburned to heat the rotor blade means, for example as the combustionproducts travel within the blades and escape into the externalcirculating air, for heating the latter both by mixing of the hotcombustion products with the air and also by conduction as the airpasses over and in contact with the heated blades. Furthermore, theblades radiate heat downwardly toward the environmental ground areastypically for frost prevention in agricultural areas as for exampleorchards, crops, vegetable areas, flower beds, etc.

Another aspect of the invention has to do with the control of aircirculation both upwardly and downwardly in relation to theenvironmental area, as for example an agricultural section. In thelatter instance, the bladed rotary means is controlled to circulate anywarm air existing above the ground downwardly and outwardly ortransversely so that particulate matter such as chemicals, insecticides,water particles and the like may be carried into intimate contact withplant life over a large area. Thus, for example, water particles may bedischarged into the air from the bladed rotor means which is itselfheated, with the result that the water particles are carried intocontact with plant life and ground surface which is heated by radiationfrom the blades and also by warmed air circulation thereover, all forthe purpose of keeping the temperature of the plant surfaces above thefrost point. In this regard, a condition approaching moisture saturationmay be created in the plant and ground surface environmental area,thereby to prevent evaporation of the moisture from the plant surfaces,which would otherwise drop the temperature of the plant below the frostpoint. The same bladed rotary means may also be used for distributingwater for irrigation purposes, fertilizing and pest control, so thatgreat economies may be realized in farming through the use of fluiddispensing and/or heat dis- Efihlfidl Patented Dec. 11, 1962 tributingrotor blade apparatus for achieving these different purposes.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a novel bladed andducted rotary apparatus powered by liquified petroleum gas fuel, orother fuel, as by the provision of fuel ducts extending through or alongthe rotor blades to jet propulsion units located or carried on or nearthe ends of the blades, the latter jets being arranged to drive therotor. Thus, the rotor assembly may be constructed very simply andefiiciently, obviating any need for a heavy internal combustion engineto be carried by the rotor or driving the rotor through complex gearingor transmission elements.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be furtherunderstood from the following detailed description of the drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates the use of a typical bladed rotor apparatus of theinvention in an agricultural environment;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the rotor head andthe controls for the rotor blades;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through therotor head of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4- is a plan view of the FIG. 1 blade with a modified jet engineconstruction;

Fit 5 shows the H6. 1 jet engine construction;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through a modified rotor head;

FIG. 7 shows the FIG. 6 rotor head With blades extended horizontally;

FIG. 8 shows the FIG. 6 rotor head with blades tilted upwardly;

d6. 9 shows the P16. 6 rotor head With blades tilted downwardly;

FIG. 10 is a perspective showing of a still further modi- 1 ed blade andjet engine construction;

FIG. 11 is a section taken on line 1ll1 of FIG. .10; and,

FIG. 12 is a perspective showing of a modified bladed rotor apparatusand treatment fluid dispensing means.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a portable assembly i shown at it to includea vehicle 11 which may typically but not necessarily be supported onwheels 12 and located within an agricultural environment such as anorchard as shown. The vehicle ll may be moved to any desired locationwithin the orchard so that the apparatus carried by the vehicle may beutilized for treating the chosen environmental area which is typicallyquite large.

One form of such apparatus is shown to include a column 13 supporting arotor head 14 which carries blades 15 and jet engines 16, the lattertypically being located at or near outward extremities of the blades.The rotor head 14 and the blades 15 may be referred to as bladed rotormeans and it will be understood that one or more blades may be utilized,although at least two blades are preferable for balance purposes.

The vehicle 11 also carries suitable means for supplying fuel andtreatment fluid to the rotor structure, and for purposes of illustrationthere is shown a fuel tank 1'7, a water tank 13 and a chemical tank 19.The fuel may typically but not necessarily comprise liquid petroleum gassuch as propane or butane, and the chemicals may typically comprise oneor more insecticides, fertilizer such as ammonium compounds, or othermaterials. For purposes of supplying these materials to the rotor headstructure, supply lines 20, 21 and 22 are shown leading from the tanks17 to 19 respectively, to a pumping and flow control unit shown at 23,control valves not shown being set to deliver the desired quantities offuel, water and chemicals to the rotor head and blades. Merely forpurposes of illustration, supply lines are shown at 24 and 25 leadinginto the base of the column 13, and FIG. 3 shows the vertical upwardterminals of the conduits 24 and 25 answer s within the rotor head 14.Typically, but not necessarily, fuel may be supplied through the line orconduit 24 whereas water or chemicals or mixtures thereof may besupplied through the line 25, as governed by the control 23. in the casewhere the fuel comprises liquified petroleum gas, a suitable regulatoris provided inthe line 20 as for example at 26, between the tank 17 andthe control 23.

Referring now to FIG. 3 the rotor head is shown to comprise a nonrotarytube 27 supported by the column 13 and a rotary sleeve 28 carried by thetube 27 and axially positioned between vertically spaced bearings 29,the upper bearing being carried by a cap assembly 3 mounted on the tube27. The sleeve 28 mounts a pair of supports 31 to which the blades areconnected for up and down hinging movement. Thus, the blade spars 32 maybe connected to the supports as by horizontal hinge pins 33 extendingthrough the supports and the spars. Such vertical hinging of the bladesis controlled by adjustment of nuts 34 on a screw 35 to lift or lower avertically floating ring 36 with respect to mounting sleeve 28. The ring36 is connected to the blade spars by links 37, as seen in FIG. 2, sothat as the ring 36 is lifted the blades will be swung upwardly, whereaslowering of the ring 36 swings the blades downwardly about the hingepins 33. FIG. 3 also shows the screw 35 connected to a flange 38 on thesleeve 28 and the nuts 34 spaced at vertically opposite sides of aflange 39 on the ring 36.

Tilting of the blades 15 about the lengthwise axes of the spars 32 iscontrolled by vertical displacement of a ring 40 floating vertically onthe sleeve 28, as shown at FIGS. 2 and 3. Such vertical displacement isin turn controlled by vertical adjustment of a fork 41 projecting intoan annular recess 42 between upper and lower flanges 43 on the ring 40.The fork is in turn connected with a vertical rod 44 extendingdownwardly through a support 45 on the column 13 and to a hand control46 shown in FIG. 1. Rotation of the hand wheel 47 serves to lift andlower the ring 40.

The latter is keyed to the rotary sleeve 28 as shown at 48 so that thering 40 rotates with the sleeve 28 and with the blades. Accordingly,tilting of the blades may be controlled by interconnecting the ring 40with the trailing portions of the blades as through the links 49, andjoints so and '51. Therefore, should it be desired to displacedownwardly more air for delivery to the environmental area, the ring 40may be moved downwardly to increase the angle of attack of the blade 15;and, should it be desired to direct more air transversely outwardly, itis only necessary to raise the ring 39 to tilt thereby the blades toextend upwardly and outwardly.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show the manner in which fuel and treatment fluid may bedelivered to and through the lades 15 while they are rotating. Thus, thefuel line 24 terminates at an annular recess 53 formed in the bore ofthe sleeve 28, whereas the line 25 terminates at a corresponding recess54 in the sleeve. O-ring seals 55 through 58 may be provided at verticalintervals to seal off between the tube 27 and sleeve 28, whereby fueland treatment fluid delivered to the recesses 53 and 54 may be suppliedduring rotation of the sleeve to rotating flexible conduits 59 and 60extending into each blade 15.

Extensions of such conduits are shown at 61 and 62 running lengthwisethrough and within the blades, as better seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and itwill be understood that one or both of these conduits may be providedwith discharge orifices spaced along the conduit lengths for dischargingfuel or treatment fluid. Thus, fuel conduit orifices are shown at 63discharging rearwardly toward the trailing edge of the blade 15, wherebyfuel discharged within the blade structure may be burned for heating thelatter. Combustion air enters the blades as through suitable ports 64located at the forward edge of the blade, and such air serves to supportcombustion of the burner gas, the products of combustion leaving thetrailing edge 4. of the blades as through ports 65. Thus, the blades areheated for transferring and widely distributing heat to the agriculturalenvironment, and the heated products of combustion are dispersed withinthe circulating air for heating plant life.

Discharge orifices 66 are shown at lengthwise spaced intervals along theconduit 61 for the purpose of distributing water, chemicals or any otherdesired fluidized or powdered treatment substances into the air streamflowing through the blade and discharging through ports into thevertically displaced air being carried downwardly to the plants. It maybe desired to circulate fuel through both of the conduits 61 and 62, inwhich case more heat may be distributed to the agriculturai environmentby radiation and conduction.

FIG. 4 shows conduit 62 extended beyond the outer end of the plate 15 toencircle the housing of a turbo-jet engine 68, the conduit extensionbeing shown in the form of a coil 69. The latter terminates at 70 fordelivering fuel to the jet engine for driving the propeller 71, and thecoil 69 serves the purpose of picking up heat from the engine forassuring complete vaporization of the fuel supplied to the engine jet orfor combustion purposes.

FIG. 5 shows the FIG. 1 simple jet engine 16 having venturi sections 73and 74. Fuel is supplied through a conduit 75 to .a coil 76 wrappedaround the combustion chamber of the engine 72 and discharging at 77into the forward venturi section 73. Air enters the intake 78 andproducts of combustion leave the engine at 79 in a jet providing thrust.It will be understood that the engine 72 may be carried at the outerextremity of each wing or blade 15 and that the conduit 75 extendslengthwise along or through the blade'and communicates with the fuelsupply.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the modified form of rotor head shown at 80includes a rotary hon-sing 81 supported for rotation on the column 13 asby bearings 82 interposed between flanges 83 and 84 of the housing 81and column 13. The housing also supports members 85 to which the bladespars 86 are hinged as by pins 87 for up and down swinging movement ofthe blades. movement is controlled by adjusting the positions of upperand lower nuts 88 on -a bolt 89, which extends between the flange 90joined to the housing 81, and a ring 91 which is free to float up anddown upon the housing 81. Such controlled ring motion is transmitted tothe blade spars 86 by links 92 hinged at 93 to the ring 91, and hingedat 94 to the spars 86.

Fuel and other fluid, such as treatment fluid, are respectivelydelivered upwardly through concentric tubing 95 and 96 which does notrotate, and to concentric tubing 97 and 98 which rotates with thehousing 81. The fuel and other fluid thus passes upwardly through arotary joint 99 which may have the form shown or any other suitable formserving the function of sealing off between the lower and upper tubeswhich are respectively stationary and rotary. As shown in FIG. 6, O-ringseals 100 and 101 are provided between flaring extents 102 through 105of the different tubes.

Fuel in the upper rotary tube 97 is delivered to the blades throughsuitable conduits 106 and 107, the former being connected into the tube97 and the latter extending outside the housing and into the bladestypically in the manner described in connection with FIG. 2. Likewise,treatment fluid within the concentric outer rotary tube 98 is deliveredto the blades through conduits 108 and 109, the former connecting intothe tube 98, and the latter extending outside the housing 81.

FIG. 7 shows the rotor head assembly of FIG. 6 with the blades 110thereof extending horizontally, jet engines 111 being located at theouter ends of the blades. FIG. 8 shows the same rotor head assembly withthe blades tilted upwardly about the axes of the pins 87 so that airflow and dispersed fluid is circulated downwardly and transverselyoutwardly in the direction of the arrows 112.

Such

Such circulation occurs with the blades having positive angles ofattack; however, should the blades have negative angles of attack theair flow and dispensed fluid will be circulated upwardly andconcentrated transversely inwardly toward axis of the rotor headassembly, in the directions of the arrows 113. FIG. 9 shows the samerotor head assembly with the blades 110 swung downwardly so that flow iscirculated downwardly and concentrated transversely inwardly toward theaxis of the rotor head assembly with the blades having positive anglesof attack. Conversely, should the blades have negative angles of attack,the flow will be circulated upwardly and transversely outwardly in thedirections of the arrows 114. The latter configuration would be usefulin the event the rotor head assembly were to be used for dispersing asmoke screen in military environments and also for dispersing fog abovean area such as an airport.

Referring now to FIGS. and 11, a greatly simplified blade configurationis shown to comprise upper and lower corrugated metal sheets 115 and116, the corrugations of which meet at locations 117 to form forwardlyand rearwardly extending open channels 118. The sheets may be bonded atthe locations 117 and may be supported by a spar 119 extendinglengthwise of the blade assembly. At the outer end of the spar islocated a jet propulsion unit 120 having air entrance end 121 and arearward jet end 122.

Conduits 123 and 124 extend lengthwise of the blade assembly parallel tothe spar 119, and above the corrugated sheets as shown for deliveringfuel .and treatment fluid to outlets or orifices 125. andf126 spaced atintervals along the blade. Thus, for example, fuel delivered throughconduit 123 discharges through elbows'127 and outlets 125 into thechannels 118 formed between the upper and lower corrugated sheets, andsuch fuel may be burned with air entering the channels to heat thecorrugated sheets. Similarly, treatment fluid such as fertilizer,insecticides,-etc. may be delivered from conduit 124 through elbows 128and discharge outlets 126 into the channels 118 for dispensationtherethrough into the circulating air. the jet engine through the spar119 or through the conduit 123.

In FIG. 12, a simplified assembly is shown to comprise a stand or column130 supporting a rotary head 131 which carries rotary blades 132, theblade spars 133 being fixedly attached to the head 131. Jet engine units134 are carried at the outer ends of the blades, and fuel is deliveredto these units from supply tank 135, through control unit 136, upmp 137,stationary duct 138, through a rotary joint 139 within the column, andthrough ducts within the blade spars. Such fuel may comprise liquefiedpetroleum gas, the joint 139 may comprise a commercial Chicksand joint,and the blades themselves may comprise sheet metal, or corrugated metalas in FIG. 10. In the latter event, fuel burners may be provided in theblade corrugation channels, for heating the blades.

Treatment fluid such as water, insecticide, fertilizer, etc. is suppliedfrom a tank 14%) through valve 3141, pump 1 52 to a duct 14-3. Thelatter has a discharge end 144 directed upwardly, as for example nearthe free inward ends of the blade spars, for discharging treatment fluidin a mist into the air circulated upwardly or downwardly by the blades,so as to be dispersed and carried into intimate contact with the groundor plant life in the case where the apparatus is used for agriculturalpurposes.

If the fuel in tank 135 is suificiently pressurized, such pressure maybe used in place of a pump to urge other materials into the circulatedair. For example, the fuel pressure may be applied to treatment fluid orpowder in tank 150 by opening valves 151 and 152 in line 153 whichconnects into either of conduits 138 and 143. Also, the fuel pressuremay be passed through an aspirating venturi section 154 by openingvalves 155 and 156 in line 157 which connects into either of conduits138 and 143.

If desired, fuel may be supplied to Treatment fluid or powder in tank158 is then sucked into line 157 through supply line 159, communicatingbetween tank 158 and the venturi section.

A military application of the different forms of apparatus described inthe drawings would be to discharge finely divided metallic particles,such as aluminum foil particles, in natural state or carried in asuitable fluid such as water into the circulating air. The environmentalatmosphere or water body near the apparatus would then becomesufiiciently saturated with the metallic particles to counteract theeffectiveness of radar, proximity fuses and other sensing devices, bothfor use in the air and under water. Also, the apparatus could be used inchemical warfare to widely distribute lethal chemicals.

The invention is also applicable to the dispersing of fog and preventingfog formation in a selected atmosphere environmental zone. For example,the treatment particles discharged into the air being displaced by thebladed rotor apparatus may comprise particles characterized as acting toreduce the surface tension of minute moisture particles suspended withinthe selected zone. As a result, larger unsuspended particles will tendto form and settle out of the zone, preventing or clearing away fog.

Such treatment particles may comprise larger water particles, or minutesilver iodide salt crystals by themselves or carried in water particlesbeing discharged into the air.

Finally, the treatment fluids may comprise a poisonous substance such asDDT in aqueous solution, or a repellant material having a strong odor orother characteristic objectionable to animals, for example swarms ofbirds or insects on airport runways, which are hazardous to aircraft.

I claim:

1. The method of rapidly treating a relatively large environmental areaproximately above the earth, that includes vertically displacing airabove a localized section of the earth so that the displaced air becomeswidely dispersed above said section by rotating bladed rotor means abouta substantially vertical axis and in overlying proximity to saidsection, discharging treatment particles into :the air lengthwise of therotor blade and being so disarea, that includes vertically displacingair generally downwardly above a localized section of the earth so that'the displaced air flows downwardly and transversely sidewardly andbecomes widely dispersed over said area by rotating bladed rotor meansabout a substantially vertical axis and in overlying proximity to saidlocalized section, heating said bladed rotor means so that heat istransferred toward said area, discharging water particles into the airbeing displaced for dispersal thereby into contact with said vegetation,and controlling rotor blade angularity with respect to said axis therebyproducing a selected transverse flow pattern of vertically displaced airflow and said particles therein.

3. The method of chemically treating a relatively large agriculturalenvironmental area containing vegetation that includes verticallydisplacing air generally downwardly above a localized section of theearth so that the displaced air flows downwardly and transverselysidewardly and becomes widely dispersed over said area by rotatingbladed rotor means about a substantially vertical axis and in overlyingproximity to said localized section, discl1arging chemical treatmentparticles into the air lengthwise of the rotor blade and being displacedfor particle dispersal into contact with said vegetation, andcontrolling rotor blade angularity with respect to said axis therebyproducing a selected transverse flow pattern of vertically displaced airflow and said particles therein.

4. Apparatus'of the-character described, comprising an assemblyincluding a relatively large bladed rotor structure supported forrotation above the earth at a work site so that the axis of bladerotation is substantially vertical, said rotor structure having blademeans operable to circulate air vertically above and 'over the earth,said assembly including duct means through which treatment materialtravels ultimately to discharge into the air lengthwise of said blademeans and being circulated by said rotor structure, said blading havingcontrollable angularity to produce a selected transverse flow pattern ofvertically displaced air flow and said material therein.

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising an assemblyincluding a relatively large rotor structure adapted to be supported forrotation above the earth at a work site, said rotor structure havingblade means operable to circulate air vertically above and over theearth, said rotor structure including engine means having a jet exhaustorifice and adapted to travel in a circle about the axis of rotorrotation, and said assembly in- I eluding duct means for flowing fuel tosaid engine means and through which treatment fluid is fiowableultimately to discharge into the air being circulated by said rotorstructure, said duct means having dispersing outlets spaced along thelength of the blade means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which said duct means includedifferent ducts for circulating fuel and treatment fluid in separatestreams along said blade means.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 in which said rotor structureincludes a central rotary'bearing'supporting said blade means, and avertical columnsupporting said central bearing, said duct meansincluding conduits within said column and said central rotary bearingfor circulating fuel and treatment fluid therein in separate streams,said conduits comprising inner and outer non-rotary lower conduits andinner and outer rotary upper conduits rotatable with and within saidbearing, said upper and lower inner conduits beingin inter-communicationthrough a sealed rotary joint and said upper and lower outer conduitsalso being in intercommunication through a sealed rotary joint.

8. The invention as defined in claim 6 including a source of liquifiedpetroleum gas fuel in communication with said fuel duct means.

9. The invention as defined in claim 6 in which said blade means containair channels with which said dispensing outlets communicate, saidchannels having air inlets and outlets for circulating air through saidchannels in response to blade rotation.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9in which certain of saiddispensing outlets comp-rise fuel burners.

11. The invention as define'clin claim 9 in which said air channels arespaced in series lengthwise of the blade and-extend cho'rdwise of theblade.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 in which each blade includes atleast one corrugated metal sheet the corrugations of which form saidchannels.

13. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which said rotorstructureincludes means for holding said blade means; to extend lengthwise atselected angularity with respect to horizontal.

14. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which said rotor structureincludes means for holding said blade means to extend chordwise atselected angularity with respect to horiion'tal.

l5. Thefmethod of rapidly treating a relatively large environmental areaproximately above the earth, that includes ,vertically displacing airabove a localized section of the-earth so that the displaced air becomeswidely dispersedabove said section by rotating bladed rotor means abouta substantially vertical axis and in overlying proximity to saidsection, discharging treatment particles into the air being so'displacedfor dispersal 4 thereby, and "controlling rotor bladeangularity with respect to said axis thereby producing a selectedtransverse fio'w pattern of vertically displaced air flaw andsaid-particles therein and heating lengthwise extent of said-bladedrotor means so that said bladed rotor means radiates heat toward saidsection of the earth.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,993,635 Towt Mar. 5, 1935 2,232,728- Pleasants Feb. 25, 1941 2,335,2811 Jepson Nov. 30, 1943 2,653,655 Salmon Sept. 29, 1953 2,895,259"Beckett July 21, 1959 2,954,932 Albano Oct. 4, 1960 2,964,247 MaasdaniDec. 13, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,309: Australia of 1923 201,574' GreatBritain Oct. 30, 1924 OTHER REFERENCES EveningStar (Washington, DC,newspaper), publi'shed Wednesday, April 8, 1959,,page A-5, article Plas-0 "tie-Smoke" Clo'uds May Aid Space Study, by W. Hines.

